GCSE Home Economics: Child Development. Summary of Changes to Content. And. How to Transfer to AQA

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1 GCSE Home Economics: Child Development Summary of Changes to Content And How to Transfer to AQA Copyright 2012 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. The Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA) is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (company number ) and a registered charity (registered charity number ). Registered address: AQA, Devas Street, Manchester M15 6EX

2 GCSE Home Economics: Child Development In developing the new specification for Child Development, AQA has built on the strengths of the existing specification, whilst also taking into account the views and needs of practising teachers. AQA has used this opportunity to: improve and update the content provide clearer opportunities within the controlled assessments for students to demonstrate their individual learning and thinking skills provide a more flexible and manageable assessment. Summary of the changes to content. Unit 1 Written Examination Candidates are expected to answer 6/8 compulsory questions to include a combination of short answer, structured and free response questions. Visual material included where appropriate. Unit 2 Research Task Candidates complete one research task from a range of AQA set tasks. Tasks will be based on the following areas of the subject content: Diet, health and care of the child Unit 3 Child Study Candidates complete one child study. They will choose one of the AQA set tasks as a focus for the study. Un-tiered entry One paper 1 hour 30 minutes 100 marks What changes? Approximately 7 hours. 30 marks Tasks will specifically assess the following skills: Research and investigation Planning Practical Analysis and evaluation Approximately 20 hours. Much reduced research element related to choosing, What stays the same? Questions will cover the areas outlined in the subject content. This now includes: Diet, Health and care of the child Development of the child.. Builds on the skills and knowledge of the research element of the existing child study.. Internally assessed Externally Candidates are still required to study a child aged between 0-5 years. Retains essential features of the existing child study. Observations look holistically at all four areas of

3 The child study will mainly examine the Development of the Child section of the subject content. Subject Content. Assessment objectives and assessment criteria. justifying and planning for activities for visits. Reduced number of visits four visits covering a period of approximately four months. 60 marks The Child Study will specifically assess the following skills: Research Making and justifying choices Planning Observation Analysis and evaluation. Content has been revised and updated and divided into five clear sections: Diet, health and care of the baby Development of the child. Each section could form the basis of approximately one terms work. All units will assess the following assessment objectives. AO1 Recall, select and communicate their knowledge and understanding of a range of contexts. (Weighting 35%) AO2 Apply skills, knowledge and understanding in a variety of contexts and in planning and carrying out investigations and tasks. (Weighting 40%) AO3 analyse and evaluate information, sources and evidence, make reasoned judgements and present conclusions. (Weighting 25%) Assessment criteria for both controlled assessments are more precise. They have been written to clearly identify the expected range and level of knowledge, skills and understanding required for each task making them easier to use. development Centres will be able to build on the strengths already developed in relation to: Introductory visit Aims, expectations and planning Observations Analyses and evaluation of visits Final evaluation. Internally assessed Externally Much of the subject content remains the same but has been revised, updated, and re-organised in a more logical way. Marking is still holistic.

4 How to transfer to AQA. The table below maps the main elements of the new AQA Home Economics: Child Development specification with existing specifications for GCSE Home Economics: Child Development from OCR and WJEC. AQA Written Examination Research Task Child Study Subject content 1 hour 30 minutes paper 6/8 compulsory questions 100 marks including QWC Combination of short answer, structured and free response questions. Visual material included where relevant 30 marks including QWC One research task chosen from a range of AQA set tasks Approximately 7 hours. Tasks based on: Diet, health and care of the child 60 marks including QWC A study of a child aged 0 5 years Approximately 20 hours. Mainly examines: Development of the Child Candidates choose one of the AQA set tasks as a focus for the study. Research relates to planning for activities for visits. Four visits covering a period of approximately four months. Content divided into the following five clear manageable sections: Diet, health and care of the baby Development of the child. Each could form the basis of approximately one terms work. OCR 50% weighting Two tiered entry Foundation tier 1 hour 30 minutes. Higher Tier 2 hours Two resource tasks (each 10% weighting) 20 marks per task 30% weighting One Individual Task: a study of a child aged 0 5 years 60 marks Content divided into the following five sections: and Pregnancy Physical Development Nutrition and Health Intellectual, Social and

5 All questions compulsory 2 3 hours per task hours. Emotional Development The Family and the Community Two sections, A and B each tier Section B on Foundation Tier identical to Section A on Higher Tier. Short answer, structured, data response and free response questions Tasks set by teacher Tasks can be based on any area of the subject content Coursework marks can be carried forward for re-sits Candidates encouraged to choose their own task titles Teachers can define and write the task title. Unspecified number of observations WJEC Re-sitting option available. 30 % weighting Two tiered entry One written paper 1 hour 30 minutes 30% weighting One Board-prescribed Task Controlled conditions 10 hours Coursework marks can be carried forward for resits 40 % weighting A child study of one child or a group of children 6 8 hours excluding observation time Four compulsory core areas of study: Social Background and development Food for Health Physical development Intellectual Development. 5 sides A3 paper/2,000 words. 60 marks + QWC up to 3 marks words max. in length 80 marks + QWC up to 4 marks Some aspects within each of the core areas only assessed in higher tier examination. Task issued in January of final year and completed by May Should be linked to child study. Planning and Making requirement internally assessed Written work externally assessed